{"id":3407,"date":"2026-04-27T19:04:53","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T19:04:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.airscene.co.uk\/news\/?p=3407"},"modified":"2026-04-27T19:04:53","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T19:04:53","slug":"teenagers-to-lead-next-generation-of-uk-space-talent-in-new-trial-backed-by-raf-charitable-trust-programme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.airscene.co.uk\/news\/promotions\/teenagers-to-lead-next-generation-of-uk-space-talent-in-new-trial-backed-by-raf-charitable-trust-programme\/","title":{"rendered":"Teenagers to lead next generation of UK space talent in new trial backed by RAF Charitable Trust programme"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"RAFCT<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A new initiative to help identify future leaders in space is due to launch later this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Funded by the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust (RAFCT), Rockets For All is a partnership with RAF Youth Stem,  Big Ideas and Imperial Space Lab, building on previous work with the UK Space Agency. The new component, Inspire Leaders, aims to raise awareness of the Space sector among young people and teachers, helping to enhance the future work force for the rapidly growing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UK space industry employs around 55,000 people directly and supports a further 80,000 jobs in the wider economy. This high level of employment contributes significantly to economic growth, with the sector generating around \u00a318.6 billion in income. Continued expansion of the global space market, projected to reach \u00a3490 billion by 2030, is expected to create further jobs and increase the UK\u2019s economic contribution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inspire Leaders will see GCSE students sign up to virtual events, equipping them with the skills to become role models, which they can then share with younger children or different audiences through enrichment activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scheme marks an important step in fostering leadership, collaboration, and STEM engagement among young people, while ensuring the programme is shaped by real-world classroom experiences. This targeted pilot will allow for deeper engagement with teachers, ensuring activities are shaped through consultation and feedback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RAFCT, based in Gloucestershire, is powered by the proceeds of the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT). Following the success of RIAT in recent years, the event\u2019s parent charity has been able to establish itself as a leading funder and convener for STEM in the UK. \u00a0The RAFCT aims to inspire young people to reach their full potential in STEM and this latest partnership is a welcome addition to the organisation\u2019s work, explains Director RAFCT, Dr Kevin P Stenson<\/strong>:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSpace has always captured people\u2019s imagination, something that has recently been illustrated by NASA\u2019s Artemis II mission and this programme unlocks young people\u2019s potential in multiple ways,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFirstly, space shows them that STEM subjects aren\u2019t just theory, they lead to real achievements for the human race from launching rockets, to living on the moon, to exploring Mars. Through STEM skills they have the power to change what humanity thinks is possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSecondly, potential is unlocked through the mastery of essential skills, including planning, adapting, teamwork and leadership. This programme will provide GCSE students with an in-school opportunity to develop these essential skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGiven the reinvigoration of interest in space, I couldn\u2019t be prouder to be launching this new partnership with Big Ideas, RAF Youth STEM and Imperial enabling young people to combine their limitless imagination with a sense of achievement and Purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Gloucestershire-based charity has reached more than 780,000 young people with STEM educational engagements since 2022, including its flagship Road to RIAT programme which reaches more 600 primary schools, and other partnerships including its support for Safer Internet Day with Tech She Can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Big Ideas is a social impact organisation specialising in educational enrichment and inclusion. Big Ideas CEO, Dr Virginia Crompton said<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are delighted to announce that the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust (RAFCT) will be supporting the Rockets for All programme pilot and we look forward to bringing the excitement of rockets and space careers to UK classrooms with the support of our partner Dr Simon Foster at Imperial Space Lab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom our previous work with the UK Space Agency, we know there is demand for accessible rocketry challenges for schools and the new youth-led leadership challenge we are introducing in this pilot will support transition to the world of work for young people, whether in Space or here on Earth. We look forward to working with our pilot schools to develop this new element further – there couldn\u2019t be a better time to get young people inspired by Space.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

www.rafct.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A new initiative to help identify future leaders in space is due to launch later this year. Funded by the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust (RAFCT), Rockets For All is a partnership with RAF Youth Stem,  Big Ideas and Imperial Space Lab, building on previous work with the UK Space Agency. The new component, Inspire … Continue reading Teenagers to lead next generation of UK space talent in new trial backed by RAF Charitable Trust programme<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[364,44,10,369],"class_list":["post-3407","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-promotions","tag-364","tag-april","tag-news","tag-royal-air-force-charitable-trust"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.airscene.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3407","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.airscene.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.airscene.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.airscene.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.airscene.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3407"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.airscene.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3407\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3408,"href":"http:\/\/www.airscene.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3407\/revisions\/3408"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.airscene.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3407"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.airscene.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3407"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.airscene.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3407"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}